X-ray image diagnosis apparatus and a method for generating image data

Abstract

An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus and a method for generating three dimensional image data of a moving body based on a plurality of two dimensional pixel data of the moving body that are automatically collected at different angle positions, wherein a plurality of radiography angle positions is previously designated, and the two dimensional pixel data is generated in correspondence with data of an object, e.g., a waveform of an electrocardiogram, collected at a real time. Based on the vital data, rotating movements for collecting a plurality of pixel data are decided. When a plurality of two dimensional pixel data obtained in correspondence with a plurality of heart beat cycles, for example, is collected at a certain designated angle position, the radiography position is automatically moved to a next collecting angle position. A set of a plurality of two dimensional pixel data collected at the same phase of the vital data of the moving body is selected for generating three dimensional image data.

1. An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus comprising:
 a paired X-ray generating unit configured to radiate X-rays on an object and X-ray detecting unit configured to detect X-rays penetrated through the object and to generate X-ray projection data;
 an angle position setting unit configured to set at least two different radiography angle positions in a successive sequence for imaging the object by moving the paired X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit; 
 a controller configured to control moving and performance of radiography operations of the paired X-ray generating unit and X-ray detecting unit based on angle position data supplied from the angle position setting unit and periodic vital data acquired from the object; 
 a pixel data processing unit configured to generate a plurality of two dimensional pixel data using X-ray projection data supplied from the X-ray detecting unit positioned at the at least two different radiography angle positions during a time corresponding to at least more than one cycle of vital data; and 
 a three dimensional image data generating unit configured to generate three dimensional image data using at least two of the two dimensional pixel data collected at a particular same phase of the vital data among the collected plurality of pixel data at each of the at least two different radiography angle positions generated by the pixel data processing unit; 
 wherein the at least two different angle positions are sufficiently spaced apart to prevent occurring errors or distortions between two dimensional pixel data collected at the respective angle position of the at least two different angle positions. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pixel data processing unit generates two dimensional pixel data corresponding to n cycles (n is a positive number greater than one) of a particular phase in a vital data collected at least at two different positions. 
     
     
       3. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including:
 a set searching unit configured to search and combine at least more than two of two dimensional pixel data of a particular phase of the vital data as one set among a plurality of pixel data generated from the pixel data processing unit; 
 a reduced pixel data generating unit configured to generate reduced pixel data of the respective pixel data in each set of pixel data provided through the set searching unit and to recognize each of the reduced pixel data as a set; 
 a display unit configured to display each of the reduced pixel data of a set recognized as a set in the reduced pixel data generating unit; and 
 a selection unit configured to select a desired set of the reduced pixel data among a plurality of reduced pixel data displayed on the display unit; 
 whereby the three dimensional image data generating unit generates three dimensional image data by using pixel data corresponding to the selected set of the reduced pixel data selected by the selection unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the pixel data processing unit includes a pixel data memory unit configured to store the generated pixel data; and
 the pixel data searching unit searches two dimensional pixel data of a particular phase of the vital data that correspond to the at least two different angle positions among the plurality of pixel data stored in the pixel data memory unit. 
 
     
     
       5. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the paired X-ray generating unit and X-ray detecting unit are supported on a C-arm; and
 the angle position setting unit includes a C-arm rotating movements controller configured to the paired X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit at least at two different angle positions. 
 
     
     
       6. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray generating unit stops X-ray irradiation during a rotation moving of the paired X-ray generating unit and X-ray detecting unit to a next designated angle position. 
     
     
       7. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray generating unit irradiates X-rays of a lower energy than an energy irradiated at the at least two different angle positions during movement of the paired X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit by the angle position setting unit. 
     
     
       8. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including:
 a set searching unit configured to combine at least more than two pixel data as one set among two dimensional pixel data generated in the pixel data processing unit based on a particular same phase of the vital data; 
 a reduced pixel data generating unit configured to generate reduced pixel data of each set of pixel data combined in the set searching unit and to recognize each of the reduced pixel data as a set; 
 a display unit configured to display each set of the reduced pixel data recognized; and 
 a selecting unit configured to select a desired set among a plurality of sets displayed on the display unit; 
 wherein the three dimensional image data generating unit generates three dimensional image data by using pixel data corresponding to reduced pixel data of a set selected by the selecting unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the two dimensional pixel data collected at least at two different angle positions are collected in correspondence with R waves in an electrocardiogram of the object. 
     
     
       10. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the two dimensional pixel data collected at least two different angle positions are collected in correspondence with signal data of diastolic end periods. 
     
     
       11. A method for generating image data, comprising:
 setting a paired X-ray generating unit for irradiating X-rays onto an object and X-ray detecting unit for detecting X-rays penetrated through the object to generate X-ray projection data at least at two different radiography angle positions; 
 generating pixel data at the at least two different radiography angle positions in correspondence with n cycles (n is a positive number of more than one) of vital data of an object through a pixel data generating unit using X-ray projection data collected by the X-ray detecting unit set at the at least two different radiography angle positions based on periodic vital data of the object; 
 generating three dimensional image data using pixel data of a particular phase in the vital data among pixel data generated in the generating step at the at least two different radiography angle positions; and 
 sufficiently spacing apart the at least two different angle positions to prevent occurring errors or distortions between two dimensional pixel data collected at the respective angle position of the at least two different angle positions. 
 
     
     
       12. A method for generating X-ray image data comprising:
 designating a plurality of different radiography angle positions for performing radiography by a paired X-ray source and an X-ray detector through an object; 
 acquiring vital data of the object in real time; 
 collecting pixel data for the duration more than at least one cycle of the vital data at a first position of the designated plurality of different radiography angle positions in correspondence with the vital data, 
 rotating the pair of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector to a next angle position so as to collect next pixel data of at least more than one cycle of the vital data in correspondence with the vital data; 
 selecting a set of pixel data of a particular same phase of the vital data among a plurality of pixel data collected at the plurality of different angle positions; 
 generating three dimensional image data using the selected set of the pixel data; and 
 sufficiently spacing apart two of the angle positions to prevent occurring errors or distortions between two dimensional pixel data collected at the respective angle position of the two angle positions.